APD takes action to avert tragedy during Fourth of July parade

A potentially tragic situation was averted by the Akron Police Department on Thursday when a male driver ignored barricades and passed the APD car anchoring the end of the Akron Fourth of July parade.

Chief Rick Lauricella shares that on July 4, 2024 at approximately 5 p.m.,  during the annual Fourth of July Parade in Akron, NY an elderly Buffalo male operating a white Honda SUV drove past numerous barricades and road closed signs on Bloomingdale Avenue entering the parade route.

The elderly male quickly found himself end of the parade following a marked Akron Police vehicle with their emergency lights activated securing the tail end of the parade. The vehicle operator decided to then pass the patrol vehicle on the shoulder with numerous parade attendees on the shoulder and children running into the street for candy that was being thrown from the numerous floats.

The male continued, passing several fire trucks with their emergency lights also activated that were part of the precession. Quick action by an Akron Officer assigned to traffic control on the parade route brought the elderly male to a stop on Parkview Drive and Main Street. After interviewing the male, he stated that “he did not know that it was a parade and that at first it appeared to be an emergency scene.” He also stated “it was going too slow, so I passed them.”

The 77-year-old man was issued numerous traffic tickets for Newstead Town Court and the Akron Police Department also requested a driver review for the elderly male.